If you aren’t looking for a deeply profound classical theatre piece, What Happens Now is just the piece for you. The (stand-up) show is comprised of one man, no set, and many, many hilarious and sometimes thought-provoking observations about Ottawa cab drivers, all-day breakfast, and kittens (to name only a few).
Andrew Chapman is delightful to spend the hour with. He exudes a laid-back persona while remaining completely compelling to listen to. Although the size of audience was abysmal the afternoon I went to see it, Chapman really does deserve full houses. Trust me, you will not regret spending your hard earned Fringe cash on this one.
VENUE 2
Friday, June 22nd @ 7pm
Saturday, June 23rd @ 6pm
Sunday, June 24th @ 7:30pm
The Boy, and the Girl, and the Secrets They Shared tells the story of a brother and sister who were separated ten years ago when they were entered into foster care. They reconnect to finally dive into and release all the melancholic moments they shared together and apart.
Simplistic in its execution (the set is a lone park bench – just the way a Fringe show should be) and props to the entire artistic team for tackling such dramatic and sensitive subject matter, however for the most part this emotional roller coaster is rather flat. The text can be at times stiff and the performers even stiffer (save for a few naturalistic moments from the Brother, played by Lewis Caunter, which came as a breath of fresh air). Regrettably, I was left wondering why I should care about this sibling duo.
Venue 2
Saturday, June 16 @ 9pm
Sunday, June 17 @ 3pm
Wednesday, June 20 @ 8:30pm
Thursday, June 21 @ 7pm
Saturday, June 23 @ 4:30pm
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– CRUX by Kathleen Frost (Hightide Theatre)
Crux tells the story of one girl, Grace, who finds herself trapped in a screening process for a secret realm/society underneath the streets of downtown Ottawa but ends up finding herself instead.
Though a musical work-in-progress, this piece has a nice ensemble. The story is fragmented and can be hard to follow but the musical numbers however are just lovely. Everyone in the cast can more than carry a tune at the same time as executing their intricate choreography. The song: “Rideau and Sussex,” could certainly be a theme song for the city.
Venue 1
Saturday, June 16 @ 11pm
Sunday, June 17 @ 6:30pm
Wednesday, June 20 @ 9:30pm
Friday, June 22 @ 5pm
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The Visitorium 
[…] nights ago I somehow ended up at ye olde NAC, in the radiant company of Team Visitorium superstar Grace Gordon. We were there for the Ottawa premiere of their latest, a co-production with Theatre Calgary of […]